What can I use instead of chicken tenders?

Try breaded chicken cutlets or similar products such as chicken nuggets or burgers. These foods can add a layer of breaded chicken between the marinara sauce and other toppings on your sliders. Cut the chicken into pieces that will fit well in your slider rolls without gaps or other problems. Cook chicken products according to package directions before assembling your sliders.

Can I make a smaller batch?

Yes, reduce the number of sliders by preparing fewer assembled portions. Buy fewer oven ingredients to make oven sliders. Buy a smaller baking pan to prevent toppings from falling off oven sliders. Bake the oven ingredients in the same order: cheese, sauce, chicken, sauce, Parmesan, and cheese. Watch for doneness during the last part of baking time, since a smaller number of oven sliders may not bake the same as a larger number.

Can I substitute provolone for mozzarella?

Yes, you can substitute sliced provolone cheese for mozzarella in these slider recipes. Sliced provolone cheese will behave similarly to mozzarella when added to these chicken and marinara sliders, but it has a different flavor. Other options include a packaged Italian cheese blend for sliders. Fresh mozzarella is not recommended because of its high water content, according to the article.

How do I keep the sliders from getting soggy?

Use layers of marinara sauce and precooked chilled chicken in slider rolls to prevent them from falling apart. Place marinara sauce between cheese layers instead of on the rolls with other ingredients. Too much moisture is the primary cause of soggy interiors in slider rolls. Wrapping the sliders in foil for some of the baking time can prevent tops from browning before the cheese melts.

How should I reheat leftover sliders?

Reheat leftover sliders in a microwave or 350°F oven or air fryer to prevent food safety issues. Reheating techniques may help make the tops of the slider buns crispy again. Consider reheating individual sliders in a microwave. You can add foil to the oven and reheat multiple slider buns to heat the filling without overcooking the buns. Offer extra marinara sauce on the side, if needed.

Chicken Parmesan Sliders with Gooey Mozzarella and Garlic Butter

By Mason BrooksOct 5, 2026

Prep

10 min

Cook

25 min

Total

55 min

Servings

Level

Easy

Jump to recipe

These Chicken Parmesan Sliders are a quick meal that requires 10 minutes of prep time and 25 minutes of cook time for a weeknight meal. Cooked breaded chicken and thick marinara sauce layered with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese make 12 rolls of Chicken Parmesan sandwiches.

Chicken Parmesan Sliders with Gooey Mozzarella and Garlic Butter

Start with precooked, chilled breaded chicken sticks or cutlets. Add shredded mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce to the bottom half of slider bun bread. Add the chicken sticks or cutlets, more marinara sauce, shredded Parmesan cheese, and more shredded mozzarella cheese to the bottom bun halves. The thick marinara sauce helps keep the slider buns from getting soggy. The mozzarella helps hold other fillings in place. Other potential seasonings for slider buns include garlic butter, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.

Bake the sliders covered. Remove the cover for the last few minutes of baking. The sliders are ready when the tops are brown and the cheese in between the layers is melted. Fresh mozzarella is the main texture issue and can make the sandwiches soggy. Letting the chicken cool before making the sliders is one strategy to avoid sogginess.

Cut the sandwiches apart along the roll perforations with a knife instead of pulling them apart. Serve additional hot side items, including green salad and pasta salad, fries and potato salad, and chips. Reheat leftover sandwiches in the microwave, oven, or air fryer.

Why you'll love this recipe

Saves time by buying breaded chicken strips and cutlets ready to assemble with other sandwich ingredients rather than bread and fry fresh chicken.
Uses one baking pan to assemble and bake sandwiches, helping to keep the slider slab in place and make it easier to serve twelve sandwiches at the table.
Common grocery store ingredients include slider buns, tomato sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
Minimal extra shopping is needed for other concession dishes or tailgate recipes.
Serves 12 from one assembled baking tray, Baked rolls are easy to separate by slicing through their existing perforations.
Holds the mixture in place by placing mozzarella both on top of and underneath the chicken. When the sliders are sliced, cheese will be on both sides of the mixture to hold it together.
Enables plan ahead, as the sliders can be chilled in advance and prepared with garlic butter and Parmesan toppings just before baking.

Instructions

Cook the chicken on a sheet pan according to the package directions, then cool.

Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 12×8-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Cut the slider rolls in half and place the bottom halves in the baking dish.

Mix the melted butter, garlic, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes in a small bowl.

Brush the bottom rolls all over with the garlic butter.

Top the rolls with 6 slices of mozzarella cheese.

Spread 1/2 cup marinara sauce over the cheese.

Arrange the cooked chicken pieces on top.

Drizzle the chicken with the remaining 1/2 cup marinara sauce.

Sprinkle with 1 Tbsp Parmesan cheese.

Cover with the remaining 6 slices of mozzarella cheese.

Place the top buns over the cheese.

Brush the tops all over with the remaining garlic butter and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese.

Lay foil loosely over the sliders and bake for 20 minutes.

Uncover and bake for another 3-5 minutes, until lightly golden and the cheese has melted.

Use a sharp knife to separate the sliders by cutting along the roll perforations.

Serve with additional warm marinara sauce on the side.

FAQ

Yes, you can fully make the sliders ahead of time until baking. Do not add the butter and shredded cheese topping until just before baking. The sliders may need to sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes and several more minutes in the oven to warm through after refrigeration. Cover with foil to prevent the tops from browning too quickly.

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Dinner Snacks & Appetizers Chicken Italian American Party

Chicken Parmesan Sliders with Gooey Mozzarella and Garlic Butter

Name: Chicken Parmesan Sliders with Gooey Mozzarella and Garlic Butter
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients: 1 package crispy chicken tenders or chicken breast cutlets (26 oz); 12 slider rolls; 4 Tbsp salted butter (melted); 3 cloves medium garlic (minced; or 1 tsp granulated garlic); 1/2 tsp onion powder; 1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning or oregano; 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes; 12 slices mozzarella cheese; 1 cup thick marinara sauce (plus additional for serving); 2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese (divided); 1 Tbsp fresh Italian parsley (chopped, optional; 1-2 Tbsp); cooking spray

By Mason BrooksOct 5, 2026

Prep

10 min

Cook

25 min

Total

55 min

Servings

Level

Easy

Jump to recipe

Why you'll love this recipe

Saves time by buying breaded chicken strips and cutlets ready to assemble with other sandwich ingredients rather than bread and fry fresh chicken.
Uses one baking pan to assemble and bake sandwiches, helping to keep the slider slab in place and make it easier to serve twelve sandwiches at the table.
Common grocery store ingredients include slider buns, tomato sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
Minimal extra shopping is needed for other concession dishes or tailgate recipes.
Serves 12 from one assembled baking tray, Baked rolls are easy to separate by slicing through their existing perforations.
Holds the mixture in place by placing mozzarella both on top of and underneath the chicken. When the sliders are sliced, cheese will be on both sides of the mixture to hold it together.
Enables plan ahead, as the sliders can be chilled in advance and prepared with garlic butter and Parmesan toppings just before baking.

Ingredients

Servings12

•1 package crispy chicken tenders or chicken breast cutlets (26 oz)
•12 slider rolls
•4 Tbsp salted butter (melted)
•3 cloves medium garlic (minced; or 1 tsp granulated garlic)
•½ tsp onion powder
•½ tsp dried Italian seasoning or oregano
•½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
•12 slices mozzarella cheese
•1 cup thick marinara sauce (plus additional for serving)
•2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese (divided)
•1 Tbsp fresh Italian parsley (chopped, optional; 1-2 Tbsp)
•cooking spray

Instructions

1
Cook the chicken on a sheet pan according to the package directions, then cool.
2
Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 12×8-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
3
Cut the slider rolls in half and place the bottom halves in the baking dish.
4
Mix the melted butter, garlic, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes in a small bowl.
5
Brush the bottom rolls all over with the garlic butter.
6
Top the rolls with 6 slices of mozzarella cheese.
7
Spread 1/2 cup marinara sauce over the cheese.
8
Arrange the cooked chicken pieces on top.
9
Drizzle the chicken with the remaining 1/2 cup marinara sauce.
10
Sprinkle with 1 Tbsp Parmesan cheese.
11
Cover with the remaining 6 slices of mozzarella cheese.
12
Place the top buns over the cheese.
13
Brush the tops all over with the remaining garlic butter and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese.
14
Lay foil loosely over the sliders and bake for 20 minutes.
15
Uncover and bake for another 3-5 minutes, until lightly golden and the cheese has melted.
16
Use a sharp knife to separate the sliders by cutting along the roll perforations.
17
Serve with additional warm marinara sauce on the side.